Yesterday, the New Yorker ran a story on whether or not Uber can change, even after the high profile ouster of Travis Kalanick. While the article certainly isn’t bad, it is bereft of any significant new analysis. However, I like it because it gave me a chance to try something ‘fun’.

In May 2011, I left an excellent job at a local startup called Netsecure Technologies. Our flagship product (SmartSwipe) had become a huge part of my life, the team was like my family, and I had carved out a very interesting job that managed to combine writing, working with people, building web apps, and leading a very innovative team. Alas, my desire to publish a magazine was rekindled and I got rather obsessed with a software product that I needed to publish it. So, with one year of runway saved up, I left the SmartSwipe project behind and went out on my own.

Beatrice, of Coquitlam, BC, passed away November 17, 2015, at Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody, BC. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Walter, her parents, James and Christiana (Brooks) Dunlop, four brothers and two sisters. Beatrice is survived by her son Terry (Roberta) Hluska, her daughter Betty (Ed) Andrews, grandchildren Gregory and Stephanie Hluska and their mother Dollette of Regina, Tamara Good, Leanne (Good) Day (Darren), Robert Good and their father Doug of New Westminster, and great-grandchildren Tyler, Jacob and Ethan, sons of Leanne, and Devin, daughter of Robert. Bea was born to James and Christiana (Brooks) Dunlop on December 10, 1920, in Marwayne, Alberta. Beatrice will be remembered for her kind, gentle spirit and her love of family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know her. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Beatrice’s name may be made to BC Heart & Stroke Foundation or BC Cancer Foundation. We will be celebrating Beatrice’s life in a Memorial Service at Burkeview Chapel in Port Coquitlam, BC, the date of which will be announced as soon as it has been arranged.

In a scene straight out of a Mel Brooks movie, Forbes was recently used to serve malicious software (malware) from ads appearing on their website. The funny part is that Forbes forced its readers to disable their ad blockers…and then promptly served them malware from the formerly blocked ads. This is one of those PR nightmares that would almost be funny if malvertising (malicious and advertising) wasn’t such a serious issue for digital marketers to take stock of.

I really enjoy Neal Stephenson. Along with William Gibson, Aldous Huxley, and George Orwell, Stephenson’s fiction has been incredibly important in the formation of my political beliefs, especially where my political beliefs intersect with technology. Therefore, it is important to note that I am deeply biased in his favour and have difficulty critically
dissecting his work. Because of this, I strongly encourage you to read the post that this article is based on and form your own opinions before you place too much trust in mine.

When I do any kind of marketing project, I always start at the product. This is traditionally the part of the process where I lose clients because it involves putting on a very critical eye and looking for flaws. If I am working for a restaurant, I like to go in with a few friends, order a meal and take a look around. I will evaluate the quality of the food, the service, and whether the decor matches the food and the price. Or, if I am working with a software/web/mobile application, I will sign up for the app and start working with it. At first, I will just try to complete some simple tasks with it, but later, I will do my absolute best to break the app.

A few years ago, I did some work for an amazing startup and stayed very close to the founders. After that company failed, we started a company together. That company failed quickly, but when I asked Sanjay for a testimonial, he wrote: